Chandigarh: In an important step, Punjab government on Tuesday passed the comprehensive ‘Right to Service Act’ to bring in adequate administrative reforms in Punjab. The Act will help provide 67 prominent services to the citizens by the government at the right time as a right.

The landmark decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

The services covered under the Act include certified copies of all documents at Village-level-- record of land rights (Jamabandi), girdawri, mutation, demarcation of land, sanction of water supply/sewerage connection, certified copies of Birth/Death Certificates, registration certificate of vehicles, fitness certificate for commercial vehicle, issue of driving licence and renewal of arms licence, among others.

The Act will be notified within the next 20 days and by July it will be implemented.

All kinds of police verifications including passport verification, issue of various certificates such as caste, OBC, income, residence, registration of all kinds of documents, sanction of all social security benefits for old age/ handicapped/ widow would also come under its purview.

Terming the decision as historic, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said that due to this act the citizens will emerge as the king.

“Common man in the state have to tackle many problems to get their government-related works done...there is procedural delays and harassment to people, but now with the act the state became first in the country to provide 67 services in a stipulated time period (one to 60 days),” Sukhbir Singh said.

Evidently, the act would ensure timely delivery of services to citizens and the person responsible for any delay could face penalty from Rs 500 to Rs 5000.

The first appellate authority would be the DSP or in-charge of Community Policing Suwidha Centre at the concerned police sub-division while the SSP or Officer Incharge of Community Policing Resource Centre of the concerned police district would be the second appellate authority.

In the other decisions taken at the Cabinet meet, approval has been given for the special session of Punjab assembly, which will commence from June 13.

The cabinet also gave nod to several reforms to improve food retail sector, education, health and judicial pattern in the state.